Drogheda Utd - 4 St Patrick's Athletic - 2 A six-goal thriller at O2 Park lastnight ended with Drogheda staging a remarkable recovery in the second half to deservedly take all three points from high-flying St Patrick's Athletic.

Trailing 2-1 at the break, the home side levelled 13 minutes into the second half and sealed the win with two late goals.

Mark Quinless did excellent work down the right in the 57th minute before cutting into the box. His pass found Don Tierney, who fired home a screamer from the edge of the area.

Drogheda took the lead for the first time just 17 minutes from time when, from Gary Cronin's corner on the left, Pat Scully headed the ball back for Andy Myler to find the target from close in.

United put the icing on the cake just three minutes from the end when Declan O'Brien raced clear to drive the ball home from all of 20 yards.

In a blistering opening spell supporters were treated to three goals in the space of 18 minutes.

St Patrick's grabbed the lead in the second minute when Charles Livingstone's cross from the left was headed home by Tony Bird.

Drogheda equalised in the 14th minute when Cronin's cross from the right was headed home by defender Danny O'Connor.

United's joy was short-lived however, as just four minutes later St Patrick's regained the lead. Keith Fahy swung over a corner from the left for Davy Byrne to head home.

Drogheda were unlucky not to draw level two minutes from the break when Don Tierney lifted the ball over the St Patrick's back four but Quinless fired over the bar.

In a controversial end to the half, referee Eddie Barr overruled his assistant, who flagged for a Drogheda penalty when Declan O'Brien was taken down in the box.

DROGHEDA UNITED: Rogers, O'Connor, Kelly, Lynch, Cronin, Scully, Quinless, Beesley, O'Brien, Myler, Tierney.

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Adamson, Prenderville, Donnelly, El Khebyr, McGuire, Foley, Byrne, Fahy, Bird, Livingstone, Freeman. Sub: Dunne for Byrne (75 mins).

Referee: Eddie Barr (Dublin).